Washington, July 13: The United States launched a fresh wave of strikes against Iran after Iranian forces fired at commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, further straining a fragile ceasefire between the two countries.

“At 5 p.m. ET today, US Central Command forces began launching more strikes against Iran to continue degrading their ability to attack civilian mariners and commercial ships freely transiting the Strait of Hormuz,” CENTCOM said.

“The Commander in Chief has directed the strikes to hold Iranian forces accountable,” it added.

The strikes were the third American wave against Iranian targets in 24 hours, The Wall Street Journal reported. The latest attacks focused on areas near the strait and along Iran’s coast, it said, citing a senior US official.

Around the same time, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps fired at civilian ships moving through the waterway, according to CENTCOM spokesman Capt. Tim Hawkins.

US aircraft shot down an Iranian cruise missile and a one-way attack drone, Hawkins said, according to CNN and The New York Times.

“We’re holding Iran accountable,” Hawkins told The New York Times.

Iranian official media reported explosions in Jask, Qeshm, Bandar Abbas and Sirik in southern Iran’s Hormozgan province. No civilian casualties or damage to residential or commercial infrastructure were initially reported, CNN said.

The latest US operation followed strikes earlier Sunday against Iranian missile and air-defence systems and small IRGC boats around the Strait of Hormuz, The Wall Street Journal reported. US forces had struck about 140 Iranian military targets overnight, taking the total number hit over three nights to more than 300, according to Fox News.

Iran responded over the weekend with attacks directed at US-linked sites and regional countries. Kuwait said three northern border posts suffered material damage. A drone also struck an offshore drilling platform belonging to the Kuwait Oil Company, injuring one worker.

Iran claimed it had targeted US High Mobility Artillery Rocket System launchers in Kuwait. CENTCOM rejected Iranian reports that American troops had been killed.

“There are zero reports of US service member deaths or injuries in the region,” it said.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed deep concern over the renewed fighting, including Iranian attacks on ships, US strikes on Iran and Iranian attacks against neighbouring countries.

“These attacks must all stop,” Guterres said. He warned that renewed full-scale hostilities would have “catastrophic consequences” for the region, international security and the global economy. He urged Washington and Tehran to “urgently resume negotiations”.

New Delhi, July 12: India on Sunday condemned the attack on the commercial vessel GFS Galaxy carrying Indian nationals off the coast of Oman, terming the continuous incidents of attacks on commercial shipping in the region “deeply worrisome.”

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated that 10 of the Indian nationals on board were rescued, while one person is still reportedly missing. The MEA said that the Indian Embassy in Oman is closely monitoring the situation and coordinating with the Omani authorities in the ongoing Search and Rescue operation. It also thanked the Omani authorities for their support.

In a statement, the MEA said, “The continuing incidents of attacks on commercial shipping in the region are deeply worrisome. We reiterate our call for immediate de-escalation of tensions, and the conclusion of ongoing negotiations for a diplomatic solution so that peace and stability can return to the region.”

“The targeting of commercial shipping and civilian infrastructure in the region must end, and free and unimpeded navigation and commerce through the international waterways in the region, in keeping with international law, must be restored at the earliest,” it added.

In a post on X, the Indian Embassy in Oman said that it is closely monitoring the incident involving the vessel GFS Galaxy. It further said that its officials are in close contact with the Omani authorities, the vessel’s management, and the concerned stakeholders, and is extending all possible assistance.

Earlier in the day, US Central Command said that GFS Galaxy, a Cyprus-flagged container ship, was attacked by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) when transiting the Strait of Hormuz, leaving a crew member missing.

In a post on X, the US Central Command stated, “At 7:15 p.m. ET today, US Central Command forces began launching the third round of strikes this week against Iran after Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces blatantly attacked M/V GFS Galaxy, a Cyprus-flagged container ship transiting the Strait of Hormuz. A civilian crew member is missing and the vessel is unable to continue the journey due to an onboard fire and significant engineroom damage.”

“Iran was provided yet another opportunity to demonstrate adherence to the Memorandum of Understanding after being held accountable for earlier attacks on commercial vessels but has again failed. In response, the United States is imposing a heavy cost by continuing to degrade Iran’s ability to attack civilian mariners and commercial ships freely transiting the strait. The strikes are being carried out at the direction of the Commander in Chief,” it added.

The incident occurred amid increased tensions in waters around the Strait of Hormuz, which carries about one-fifth of the world’s traded oil and is critical for global energy security.

Muscat, July 12: Oman and Iran have agreed to continue technical and political talks on navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, Oman News Agency reported.

The two sides held talks in Muscat on ensuring the safety and freedom of navigation through the strait in light of recent developments, the report said.

They agreed to continue discussions at both the technical and political levels aimed at reaching necessary understandings in accordance with international law, reports Xinhua quoting Oman News Agency .

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said Friday Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi would visit Oman on Saturday for consultations on the Strait of Hormuz.

The talks came amid heightened tensions following a recent exchange of attacks between the United States and Iran, triggered by alleged Iranian strikes on commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz.

Following US-Israeli strikes on Iran in late February, Tehran tightened its control over the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway through which about one-fifth of the world’s seaborne oil trade passes, barring safe passage of Israeli- and US-linked vessels.

Iran and Oman agreed in June to continue discussions through a joint working group between their foreign ministries to reach an understanding on the future management of navigation and related maritime services in the strait.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump said Friday that Washington had agreed to continue talks with Iran, even as he declared that the ceasefire between the two countries was over after a sharp escalation in military strikes.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran has asked us to continue ‘talks.’ We have agreed to do so, but the United States has stated to them, in no uncertain terms, that the Cease Fire is OVER!” Trump said in a post on Truth Social.

The statement suggested that diplomatic contacts would continue despite the collapse of the ceasefire framework negotiated last month.